The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has reportedly asked the Ministry of Human Resource Development (MHRD) to submit the true account of the alleged financial misappropriations and other anomalies in the Nagaland University by Vice Chancellor within a month’s time. It was about time that something had to be done to go into the entire gamut of issues and more so the allegations that has dogged the NU right from the beginning. It is in this sense only appropriate now, for the CBI to step in and investigate the matter on a high priority basis and as the country’s premiere investigating agency; it should conduct the necessary enquiry without allowing any interference from any political quarters.
It is equally disappointing to note that last year, when a central fact finding committee was sent to Nagaland, it had failed to do justice to the case at hand and turned out to be a complete eye wash so much so that no action could be initiated against the Vice Chancellor. It is suspected that there could be powerful people within the MHRD and because of the dishonest intent the only noteworthy exercise undertaken by them has turned out to be a cosmetic one while completely turning a blind eye to the gross allegations they were summoned to look into. The adage that ‘one cannot fool all the people all the time’ ought to only prove true even in this case.
It is therefore only right that the NUTA and PGSU are now taking the issue to its logical conclusion as the State institutions and concerned agencies have failed to perform its assigned role. Even the remark made by the Minister for Planning and Coordination, Dr Shurhozelie seems unfair at this juncture. The Minister should know that the university teachers and students had all along remained patient through submission of various prayers and petitions to the State institutions. If, such grievances fall on deaf ears, it is but only natural that the NUTA and PGSU seems to have been compelled in resorting to other forms of democratic protests. Those who are agitating would also have to ensure that they do not take the law into their own hands.
As they say ‘better late than never’, now that the MHRD has requisitioned probable names for the post of Vice-Chancellor, it is expected that a replacement will be in the offing soon. While it remains the prerogative of the Centre to make such an appointment it will also have to carefully assess the situation and take a professional decision rather than a political one. The experience of the last two appointees has not been a pleasant one and the NU community in general had never been able to reconcile to the decisions being imposed from Delhi.
Even if it is the case that the appointment of a new VC is resolved the matter does not end there for the simple reason that the issue is not merely about an individual but of the institution that has remained under a cloud, being grappled with teething problems since its inception in 1994. Merely to oust the VC may provide temporary relief but the deeper malaise within Nagaland University if it is not diagnosed and cured will only make the entire protest being undertaken by the NUTA and PGSU a mockery of sorts.
